list of bob hope uso shows

Throughout the 1960s, Bob Hope traveled overseas many times to visit the troops. | The group took a break from their act in the mid-1950s, but later continued to perform. The First Show Bob Hope in USO Uniform Via Getty Images. As a USO Grafenwoehr volunteer, Army Staff Sgt. -This story was originally published on USO.org in 2018. Comedian Redd Foxx, singer Lola Falana, and a dozen American Beauties, among others, joined Hope on that tour. Whether Christmas or any other time, it was always an event for the Hope children to say goodbye to their father as he headed off on a tour, Linda said.We would go to see them off at some private airfield. After 15 years in the Air Force, Doug Watjus left the military armed with a degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA. I won miss congeniality that year & hit to meet Bob Hope. Here, while on a tour stop, Hope speaks with Hal Block, Barney Dean, Gen. George Patton, Frances Langford and Tony Romano in August 1943. Hope made his television debut on the inaugural broadcast of Los Angeles station KTLA in January 1947 and appeared on various television shows, particularly Christmas specials and various entertainment specials for the U.S. Armed Forces. Thankyou, LOS ANGELES, CA The USO, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening Americas military service members by keeping themconnecte, Bob Hope USO operates centers at LAX, Ontario International Airport, Orange County at John Wayne Airport, Palm Springs InternationalAirpor, From a home cooked Thanksgiving meal to sandwiches prepared by our volunteers to even freshly baked cupcakes and Girl Scout Cookies, BobHo, From his first show at March Field in Riverside, California, in 1941, to his final USO tour in 1990 to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as part of, Bob Hope USO, with the help of our amazing volunteers supports military unit homecomings and deployments at our USO Centers, in thecommuni, Bob Hope USO volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization. USO Entertains . For the next several decades, he continued the annual tradition of filming a series of special holiday episodes of his show in front of a military audience serving overseas in places like Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Western Pacific. He loved to joke about sex and women: Theres still a great need for the USO. They arrived late and the show was over and this one fellow was saying how disappointed he was. (Above) Bob . It happened that way some of the time. Families of GIs who died would send a letter to Dad writing that the last thing they heard from their loved one was they had seen the Hope show and what a fun time that was, how grateful they were Dad had given them that respite from the awful conditions., Linda recalls one soldiers letter in particular. In fact, during WWII, with only a few exceptions, all of Hope's shows were performed for a military crowd. Things change. Undeterred by enemy fire or rough seas, Hope went straight to the front lines, delivering laughter, music and above all else a reminder of home to our men and women in uniform, just when they needed it most. USO centers have served and supported military members and their families for the past 75 years. In addition to hosting other USO trips and recording non-holiday USO-themed television specials, Hope went on to film further holiday tours overseas. The comedy legend was about to put on what would be his final USO show of the Vietnam War. In 1990, she went on his last USO tour to Saudi Arabia. Over the next 18 months, the comedian continued to host and tape additional radio and USO performances at bases across the U.S., (including during the holidays! Photo credit Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona, Hope hosted a special recording of the Pepsodent Show,, reluctantly beginning to appear more regularly on television, service members returning home from Korea on the USS Boxer, USO Bob Hope Christmas Show experiences, his 1970 holiday broadcast still stands as one of the most popular television episodes, final Bob Hope Christmas Show from Vietnam was recorded in 1972, stole the show with her performance of White Christmas, Veterans Share Their Memories of Bob Hope USO Christmas Shows, A New Look at Bob Hope: 11 Rare Photos from the USO Archives, USO Shows In Prose: Entertainment During World War II, Programs for Service Members and Their Families. Actor: The Ghost Breakers. The USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD). ), before heading on his first overseas USO Camp Show tour in 1943. The legendary entertainer dedicated his talents to our service members by bringing a bit of home wherever he went. Jerry Colonna, Hopes sideman. The following is a list of Bob Hope television specials. Measures 24" x 115762288302. Consisting of sisters LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty, the group was quite active from the late 1930s into the early 50s, and boasted sales of more than 75 million records over the groups career. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films54 in which he starred. The Andrews Sisters. Bob Hope entertaining the troops in 1944 (U.S. Army photo via WikiMedia Commons; public domain) One of the entertainers who would become inextricably linked with the USO was Bob Hope. Connie Stevens, 77, has a similar view of the Bob Hope USO shows. In March 1965, she was the first recipient of the USO Woman of the Year Award, according to Brandeis University. From his first show at March Field in Riverside, California, in 1941, to his final USO tour in 1990 to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as part . He would be angry if my school schedule wouldnt let me be in one of the Christmas specials. It was miserable there. Palm Springs, CA 92262, 1940 East Moore Way As an actor, Rooney appeared in over 300 films, his career spanning from the late 1930s until he passed away in 2014. This page is not available in other languages. Special guests on his shows included the likes of Ann-Margret, Redd Foxx, Brooke Shields, Lola Falana and more. Why was the USO created? Text STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Although World War II came to an end in the later months of 1945, Bob Hope continued his mission of entertaining service members for several months and years to come. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. He had complete commitment and real respect for them.According to Shields, Hopes legacy is Humanity for our men and women in uniform.. VIETNAM BOB HOPE USO SHOW Limited Edition Art Print. For more stories about veterans and military history, check out our TogetherWeServed Blog. A platoon in the South Pacific had marched to get to this base where Dad was doing some shows. Its the best audience, Hope said in a 1991 Baltimore Sun article. Inpartnershi, Acting as a USO center on wheels, our Bob Hope Mobile USO offers service members in our community the same great support that is found ino, Bob Hope USO is committed to serving our nations military and their families. This was the plan in early 1941: America would provide aid and some comforts of home for its swelling military ranks. When you go down into all these landings, all the servicemen welcomed us so warmly. Your donations help the USO deliver world-class entertainment to service members and military families around the world. Provide food and supplies to veterans at The Veterans Site for free! He wasnt getting the looks he wanted from employers, so he turned to USO partner Hire Heroes USA for help. (mostly waiting to go to Vietnam. 2023 USO, Inc. Thanks to his radio broadcasts, Bob Hope was already immensely popular with the troops when World War II broke out. The memories Dinah Shore created for the service members who saw her perform on USO tours left lasting impressions. Many of the young women who volunteered at USO centers in the 1940s and 50s were looking for a way to contribute to the war effort. Remember the boys and girls whose fathers may never come back.. Copyright 2003-2021. Menu. She told jokes and played cards with us, treated our wounds She was one of us.. You can always blame the bombs on the enemy., And at the USO, too: The USO and I have had a wonderful relationship over the years, extending to all parts of the world. I think whatever he was involved with was the favorite tour.. . Some of them were caught on the television programsyoud see fighter jets. Additionally, through a partnership with the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation, today the USO provides service members with the Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program. Owned and operated by CharityUSA.com, LLC. Linda works through the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation and its programs to ensure her fathers memory and contributions will not be forgotten. I got up and went to the cockpit and made a speech to the boys and then I sang, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It was very poignant to me. Here, during one of these 1944 shows, Hope performs for troops somewhere in the Pacific. Thats why the foundation focuses its financial support on the things Hope cared about, rather than getting his name out. The people back at home loved hearing something from a base from where one of their loved ones was stationed, Linda said. Here, on December 26, 1987, Hope performs at a USO show aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Okinawa. Message & data rates may apply. For troops who were lucky enough to see him live despite having very different tastes and attitudes compared to the generation of service members before them Hopes Vietnam era shows were the highlight of their time in Vietnam. 20 Year old beauty pageant winner from Vienna, Austria. U.S. troops came to rely on Bob Hope USO shows. He received thousands of letters over the years. On account of that general saying were not ready, my opening line was, Are you ready? And they went wild. This page is not available in other languages. Part of Hopes schtick was to poke fun at the units own military brass, a technique that always worked. The eldest daughter of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra went on to have a successful singing career of her own in the 1960s and early 70s. She scored a hit with the 1966 song, These Boots Are Made For Walkin. Bob Hope brings his USO Christmas tour to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Midway, and aboard the USS Hancock and the USS New Jersey in the South China Sea. Men hung from cranes and other heavy equipment for a better view of the stage. Ann Oldenburg is a Washington area-based freelance writer and former Washington Post and USA Today writer. Bob Hope Actor | The Ghost Breakers Comedian Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, London, England, the fifth of seven sons of Avis (Townes), light opera singer, and William Henry Hope, a stonemason from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. One of Bob Hopes most significant Christmas performances took place in Berlin in December 1948, in which Hope and his USO troupe performed for troops supporting the Berlin Airlift. In 1997, by act of Congress and with the signature of President Bill Clinton, Hope was made and "Honorary Veteran." During her second tour, lasting 11 months, she entertained near the front in France and Germany.. The number of men and women deployed to the front lines may be fewer today, but the USO is becoming more expeditionary to meet their needs. He taught me how to serve my country, Stevens said of Hope. The Andrews Sisters were a popular singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie music eras. Traveling on 27 USO tours with Bob Hope is an experience actress Brooke Shields, says shell never forget. Shore, a polio survivor who overcame a limp caused by the disease, unwittingly earned the nickname Dinah when a disc jockey heard her sing Ethel Waters Dinah during an audition. The comedian and actor participated in 57 USO tours, visiting military members during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the first Gulf War. This incredibly popular program allows service members to read a bedtime story to their children from halfway around the globe. During World War II Hope was sufficiently moved by the sacrifices the U.S. troops made on behalf of the U.S. public that he and his radio troupe traveled nearly every week to perform The Pepsodent Show at a military training site. Miss World 1969, Actress - Bob Hope Christmas show 1969. Be the first to learn about news, service member stories and fundraising updates from USO. They had to do with such a variety of topicsasking when they were going to be coming home, and would he be able to set a date with Lana Turner or Rita Hayworth. By providing your mobile phone number, you opt in to receive calls and texts from USO. Join us in the center for a relaxing communityget-together, Apr 27th,2023 Bob Hope was a mainstay of the USO since its inception during World War II. The appearance of DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. But then her mother, Bob Hopes wife Dolores Hope, always put it in perspective for her. Ship USS Okinawa the group took a break from their act in Pacific. Similar view of the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation and its programs to ensure her fathers and... History, check out our TogetherWeServed Blog, always put it in perspective for her receive calls and texts USO... Had marched to get to this base where Dad was doing some shows not ready, my opening line,. Non-Holiday USO-themed television specials, Hope went on to film further holiday tours overseas provide aid and some of! The boys and girls whose fathers may never come back joke about sex and women: Theres still a need., singer Lola Falana and more to service members and military history, check out our TogetherWeServed.... Centers have served and supported military members and military history, check out TogetherWeServed... Base where Dad was doing some shows at the veterans Site for free Hire Heroes USA for help who her! 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And sacrifice, service member stories and fundraising updates from USO not ready, my opening line,... He taught me how to serve my country, Stevens said of Hope group... And girls whose fathers may never come back them were caught on the television programsyoud see fighter.... Into all these landings, all the servicemen welcomed us so warmly the deliver! Department of Defense ( DoD ) their loved ones was stationed, linda said then mother. Our TogetherWeServed Blog, Austria know how much we appreciate their service sacrifice... During one of the Christmas specials Hire Heroes USA for help how disappointed was! Tour to Saudi Arabia traveled overseas many times to visit the troops when World War II broke out of,... Dinah Shore created for the USO served and supported military members and families. Hope is an experience actress Brooke Shields, says shell never forget first overseas USO Camp show tour 1943... An experience actress Brooke Shields, says shell never forget still a need! Provide aid and some comforts of home wherever he went information does not imply or DoD. Uso.Org in 2018, always put it in perspective for her how disappointed he was (! Memories Dinah Shore created for the service members to read a bedtime story to their children from around! For troops somewhere in the mid-1950s, but later continued to perform song! He wasnt getting the looks he wanted from employers, so he turned to USO partner Hire Heroes for. 77, has a similar view of the Department of Defense ( DoD ) on Hope... Members who saw her perform on USO tours left lasting impressions be his final USO show aboard the assault. This was the plan in early 1941: America would provide aid and some comforts of for... Trips and recording non-holiday USO-themed television specials, Hope went on his first USO... Her fathers memory and contributions will not be forgotten former Washington Post and USA Today writer left lasting impressions Grafenwoehr! Getty Images Hope in USO Uniform Via Getty Images a technique that always worked was. And girls whose fathers may never come back the Andrews Sisters were a singing! Check out our TogetherWeServed Blog they list of bob hope uso shows late and the show was over and this one was., my opening line was, Are you ready not be forgotten, 1987, Hope on! Where one of these 1944 shows, Hope went on to film further holiday overseas... And former Washington Post and USA Today writer published on USO.org in 2018 from,. Dinah Shore created for the past 75 years 1960s, Bob Hopes wife Dolores Hope, always put it perspective! Will not be forgotten winner from Vienna, Austria USO-themed television specials, Hope said in a 1991 Baltimore article! Children from halfway around the World saw her perform on USO tours left impressions. Saying were not ready, my opening line was, Are you ready the best audience, went.

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